PAKISTAN UPDATES

Rangers case: challan presented before ATC Updated at: 1822 PST,  Saturday, June 18, 2011  KARACHI: The Challan in the case of unarmed Sarfaraz Shah’s killing by Rangers personnel was presented before an Anti Terrorism Court (ATC) on Saturday, Geo News reported.Public Prosecutor, Irshad Iqbal Cheema submitted the Challan which includes statements of 46 witnesses, two of them eye witnesses.Fourteen pieces of evidence in connection with the case have been gathered including a weapon, blood-soaked clothes (of Sarfaraz Shah) and a cell pho .... Full Story

US is talking to Taliban: Karzai Updated at: 1402 PST,  Saturday, June 18, 2011  KABUL: The United States and other foreign powers are engaged in preliminary talks with the Taliban about a possible settlement to the near decade-long war in Afghanistan, Afghan President Hamid Karzai said on Saturday, the first official confirmation of U.S. involvement in negotiations.Diplomats have already said there have been months of preliminary talks between the two sides, and Karzai, who is a strong advocate of peace talks, has long said .... Full Story

KSE sheds 16 points this week Updated at: 1909 PST,  Saturday, June 18, 2011  KARACHI: The trade activities at Karachi Stock Exchange (KSE) kept see-sawing throughout this week and the 100-share Index closed 16 points down to 12,361 at weekend, Geo News reported Saturday.This week’s business at KSE started with positive numbers and during one of the sessions the Index was seen gaining 400 points. However, selling in energy stocks did not allow the rising trend to sustain the gains and the Index slipped 16 points to close a .... Full Story

Rain stops play again in England-Sri Lanka Test Updated at: 2100 PST,  Saturday, June 18, 2011  SOUTHAMPTON: England were 69 for two in reply to Sri Lanka's 184, a deficit of 115 runs, when rain stopped play on the third day of the third Test at the Rose Bowl here on Saturday. Alastair Cook was 32 not out and Kevin Pietersen 27 not out after Saturday's fourth rain delay. Some 120 overs were lost on the first two days of what was the first Test ever staged at the Rose Bowl. England lead the three-match series 1-0. .... Full Story

Bollywood couple ‘Saifeena’ splitting up? Updated at: 1931 PST,  Saturday, June 18, 2011  MUMBAI: News of Bollywood super couple “Saifeena” splitting up has become common, and now a close confidant of the couple has revealed that Saif Ali Khan and Kareena Kapoor are not happy with each other. Differences between Saif Ali Khan and Kareena Kapoor are increasing and according to latest reports the two cannot devote much time to each other due to shooting schedules and have started fighting. Reports also indicate that Saif Ali Khan is fed .... Full Story

Cancer death rates continue drop: report Updated at: 1844 PST,  Saturday, June 18, 2011  CHICAGO: Cancer death rates are continuing to fall, but not all segments of the population are benefiting, the American Cancer Society said on Friday.Overall, the group predicts 1,596,670 new cancer cases in the United States and 571,950 deaths in 2011.Death rates for all cancer types fell by 1.9 percent a year from 2001 to 2007 in men and by 1.5 percent a year in women from 2002 through 2007.Steady overall declines in cancer death rates have mea .... Full Story

Man builds the world’s tallest sandcastle Updated at: 0847 PST,  Saturday, June 18, 2011  WASHINGTON: Ed Jarrett received confirmation from Guinness World Records Wednesday that he has broken his own record building the World’s Tallest Sandcastle at Winding Trails in Farmington.That was expected, with the castle standing at 38 feet, .75 inches on May 20 in may, based on a height survey conducted by F.A. Hesketh & Associates, Inc. of East Granby, but there was an unsuspected drop in height to 37 feet, 10 inches.This is the third time J .... Full Story